Vieux-la-Romaine Archaeological Museum

The Vieux-la-Romaine Archaeological Museum is an archaeological museum located in the municipality of Vieux. It was inaugurated on 21 February 2002.

The museum is situated near the remains of the Roman city of Aregenua, the capital of the civitas of the Viducasses. The archaeological site includes a Gallo-Roman theater of Vieux, a forum, a house with a U-shaped courtyard, and a house with the large peristyle.

The museum is located on the site of the Roman city of Aregenua,^[1] which was founded in the 1st century, likely during the reign of Emperor Augustus.^[2] The city developed under his successors, Tiberius and Claudius, and reached its peak in the 2nd and 3rd centuries,^[3] with an estimated population of around 5,000 over 30–37 hectares.^[2][4] The first Roman-style buildings appeared around 120–140,^[2] and the house with the large peristyle dates from the Severan period.^[5] In the 3rd century, the city became known as Civitas Viducassium^{[A 1]} and joined the Gallic Empire under Postumus during the Crisis of the Third Century.^[6] Decline began in the mid-3rd century, with the abandonment of several districts.^[4][3][6] Around 400, Aregenua lost its status as a civitas capital to Augustodurum and experienced a significant population decrease.^[7][8]

Aregenua was the capital of the Viducasses,^[2] whose territory covered approximately 2,300 km².^{[C 1]} The city was granted Latin rights, and its inhabitants were exempt from the tributum soli, the land tax owed to Rome.^[9] The administrative complex included buildings such as the basilica and the curia.^[10]

Christianity became established in the settlement between the 5th and 7th centuries, during a period of increasing ruralization.^[11] In the Merovingian period, the site experienced renewed development before the population gradually relocated to a more northerly area.^[3][12]

Excavations at the site of Aregenua began in the 17th century in the southern part of the village^{[A 1]} and continued in 1703 under the supervision of Nicolas-Joseph Foucault, intendant of the Généralité of Caen.^[1][13][14] Excavations gained particular significance in the 19th century under the direction of the Society of Antiquaries of Normandy.^[14]

After the Allied bombings of Normandy during the Second World War, the village of Vieux was rebuilt without prior archaeological investigations.^[15] Archaeological programs in the Vieux-la-Romaine area were initiated in the 1980s by the Calvados Department Archaeological Service, established in 1982.^[15] Permanent excavations began in 1988,^{[B 1]} with the long-term goal of creating an archaeological center featuring site restoration and public access.^[15] A museum project was planned contingent on the discovery of significant and well-preserved artifacts.^[15]

The discovery of the house with the large peristyle between 1988 and 1991, notable for its rich decoration, prompted the Departmental Council of Calvados to develop the site as a center of cultural tourism.^[15] The gardens of the house were opened to the public in 1993.^[15] The decision to construct a museum was made in 1998, and the foundation stone was laid in 2000.^[15]

Excavations conducted during the construction of the museum revealed a complex comprising several small temples.^[16] The creation of the parking area in 2001 led to the rediscovery of an entertainment building previously identified between 1952 and 1954.^[17] The museum was inaugurated on 21 February 2002 by Anne d'Ornano.^[18][19] In 2005, the General Council of Calvados acquired the plot known as the "Champ des Crêtes" to establish an archaeological reserve and prevent residential development.^[20]

The forum was constructed at the beginning of the 2nd century and underwent two modifications: at the end of the 2nd century and during the first third of the 3rd century.^[21] Excavations at the forum site began in 1703 under the supervision of Nicolas-Joseph Foucault.^[13] Between 1839 and 1861, Arcisse de Caumont and Antoine Charma continued the work.^[22] On 19 March 1840, de Caumont cleared the walls and part of the seating of the Curia.^{[A 2]} In 1859, Charma and the Société des Antiquaires de Normandie produced plans of the building and documented recently revealed marble decorations.^{[13][12][A 3]} The Society of Antiquaries of Normandy continued excavations through the second half of the 19th century.^{[A 4]} A new archaeological campaign began in 1972, uncovering remains from the reigns of Tiberius and Nero through the 4th century.^{[A 4]} Electrical surveys were conducted in 2005,^{[A 5]} followed by additional excavations in 2007 and 2008.^{[A 6]}

The forum is rectangular, measuring 115 m by 51.5 m, and is situated off-center on a plateau overlooking the La Guigne valley.^{[23][A 7]} It is accessed via two decumani and one cardo, and is surrounded by shops.^{[A 7]} In the western part of the site,^{[A 7]} a temple and a sacred area have been identified, although the deity of the temple remains unspecified.^{[A 8]} Archaeologists have recovered 36,280 fragments, which have helped reconstruct part of the building's decoration.^[24]

• Forum of Vieux-la-Romaine
• General plan of the forum at the end of the 2nd century.
• Origin of the various decorative stones used in the forum.
• Overview of the excavations.
• Panoramic view of the excavations.
• Foundations of part of the forum.
• Remains of the Curia.

The construction of the house is generally dated to the late 1st century or early 2nd century,^{[B 2]} although some evidence suggests it may date to the second half of the 2nd century or early 3rd century.^{[B 3]} Toward the end of the Roman period, the house likely housed an artisan working with bone.^{[B 4]} The original cellar was filled in during this time.^{[B 4]} The house was abandoned from the second half of the 3rd century onward,^{[B 5]} and the Roman remains suffered degradation during the medieval period due to exposure to the elements.^{[B 6]}

Excavations at the house began in the 1990s, and a shelter was constructed in 2008^[25] as part of site enhancements. Archaeological investigations revealed part of a Tuscan-order column,^{[B 7]} as well as human and animal remains, including a child aged eight to ten and a horse.^{[B 6]}The house is located approximately 100 meters from the museum^[16] and has a total area of 197 m², including an 85 m² courtyard.^{[25][B 2]} The floor is constructed of tuileau concrete. The residential section contains five rooms,^[25] and the 13.5 m² cellar likely functioned as a storage area.^{[B 8]} The house was connected to the period's sewer network.^{[B 4]} Its inhabitants were probably of a lower social status than those of the house with the large peristyle.^[25]

• U-shaped courtyard house
• Plan of the house.
• Plan based on an excavation report.
• Courtyard protecting the remains of the house.
• General view of the layout of the rooms of the house from the street.
• General view of the house from the courtyard.
• Storage space.

Before the construction of the house, the site contained light wooden structures during the 1st and 2nd centuries.^{[C 2]} In the mid-2nd century, a stone insula was built,^{[B 9]} which was later replaced by two houses, one of which in the western part was quickly demolished.^{[C 3]} Around 170–180, a house with a small peristyle was constructed.^{[B 10]} At the end of the 2nd century or the beginning of the 3rd century, the house was expanded into the house with the large peristyle.^{[B 10]} Following a fire, it was abandoned at the end of the 3rd century.^{[C 4][C 5]} After another fire in the early 4th century, the building was used for material recovery and reuse.^{[C 6]} By the 18th century, the site was completely covered with soil and converted into cultivated land.^{[C 7]}

The first discovery at the site, a mosaic, was made in 1812.^{[C 8]} In 1826, the Society of Antiquaries of Normandy initiated excavations.^{[C 8]} Systematic archaeological work on the house took place from 1988 to 1991 under the direction of Pascal Vipard.^{[15][C 9]} The tutela of Vieux-la-Romaine was discovered in August 1988.^[26] The house was prepared for public access starting in September 1992 and opened in July 1993,^{[C 9][27]} with its gardens also opening that year.^[15] It is the only Roman-period building open to visitors in Lower Normandy and the only peristyle house accessible in northern France.^{[C 9]}

• House with large peristyle in Vieux-la-Romaine
• Plan at the height of the house.
• Model reconstruction of the house in the 3rd century.
• General view of the main facade.
• View of the west wing and the pool from a utility room.
• Hypocaust.

The entertainment monument was initially constructed as a theatre and was transformed into an arena during the 2nd century.^[16]The structure was first cleared between 1852 and 1854, but was covered again shortly afterward.^[15][17] In 2001, it was uncovered once more during work carried out for the creation of the museum's parking area.^[17]

The baths are situated in the southern part of the Roman city.^[16]Initial elements of the baths and the gymnasium were uncovered in the 18th century by Nicolas-Joseph Foucault.^{[A 2]} Excavations on the baths continued into the 19th century,^{[A 9]} after which the site was reburied.^[15]

The museum includes two restored Gallo-Roman villas: the house with the U-shaped courtyard and the house with the large peristyle.^[19]

The main building has a contemporary design, featuring colonnades and wooden claustras that reference the Roman period.^[19][28] Portions of the façade incorporate glass and concrete to reflect modern architectural elements.^[19] Pompeian-style gardens are located adjacent to the building.^[28] The museum comprises several rooms,^[28] with the permanent exhibition covering 650 m².^[29]

The first room focuses on the development and layout of the ancient city of Aregenua.^[28] It features a model reconstructing the city during the Roman period, the decorated columns from the house with the large peristyle, and a Gallo-Roman statue known as the tutela.^[28]

The second room presents the decoration of the house with the large peristyle and the various rooms of the domus.^[28] Exhibits include wall paintings, such as a panel depicting Achilles receiving his weapons from the Nereid Thetis, and a fresco featuring fish.^[28]

Other rooms display a stratigraphic section of the excavations and objects from daily life, including well-preserved ceramics.^[28] A reconstruction of a Carolingian-period farm is also included.^[28]

The museum employs a variety of methods to present the Roman period to visitors, including models, staged displays, handling and restored objects, investigative trails, and reconstructions.^[19][28] Most exhibits are accompanied by English translations.^[28]

Following its inauguration, the museum was directed by Béatrice Labat and subsequently by Xavier Savary.^[28][1] It receives approximately 25,000 visitors annually.^[1]

• Items on display in the various rooms
• Partial reconstruction of the fish fresco based on archaeological discoveries.
• Greek mythological fresco showing the Nereid Thetis on the left giving her weapons to Achilles on the right.
• Model reconstructing the house with a large peristyle.

In 2022, the museum housed more than 4,000 objects, including around 1,000 items in storage and 3,580 lapidary elements illustrating the history of the settlement and its inhabitants.^[19][29] The collections focus on daily life and include reconstructed colonnades, as well as paintings and mosaics.^[19][1]

• The Tutela of Vieux-la-Romaine, symbol of the city according to archaeologists, found during excavations of the villa with the large peristyle
• Copy of the Thorigny Marble
• One of the columns of the villa with the large peristyle
• Mars

The sculpted columns from the house with the large peristyle are exhibited in Room 1 of the museum.^[28]

The Thorigny marble was uncovered in 1580.^{[A 2][28]} It commemorates the career of the city magistrate Titus Sennius Sollemnis and his associates.^[28]A copy of the Thorigny marble is exhibited in Room 1 of the Vieux Museum,^[28] while the original is held by the Saint-Lô Museum.

The Giberville tripod was discovered either in 1812^[30] in a garden near the public fountain^[31] or in 1829 near the Church of Saint-Martin, Giberville.^[32] It was acquired by Gervais de La Rue for the Society of Antiquaries of Normandy^[33] and moved to Caen, where it was kept in the Pavilion of learned societies.^[33] Following the establishment of the Museum of Antique Dealers of Normandy, the tripod was transferred there in 1864, catalogued as inventory number 242, and displayed in the "tripod room" on the first floor.^[34][35] On 12 September 1983, it was moved to the Museum of Normandy in Caen under inventory number D.S.A.N. 83-759.^[36][37] In 2024, it was deposited at the Vieux Archaeological Museum.

The tripod measures 0.93 m in height and is designed to be foldable and portable.^[38][33] Its legs feature cross-bracing forming isosceles triangles.^[39][33] The basin at the top of the tripod is a modern reconstruction.^[38]

• Giberville tripod
• Exhibited at the Normandy Museum between September 12, 1983, and early 2024.
• Exhibited at the Vieux Museum since 2024.
• Diagram.
• Engraving by Amédée Léchaudé d'Anisy in the 19th century.

A Gallo-Roman statue, known as a tutela, is displayed in Room 1 of the museum.^[28] It originates from the reception room of the house with the large peristyle.^[28]

• History of Normandy
• Viducasses
• Forum of Vieux-la-Romaine
• U-shaped courtyard house in Vieux-la-Romaine
• List of museums in Upper Normandy

• Le forum et la curie d'Aregenua (Vieux, Calvados): Bilan sur les découvertes anciennes et les recherches récentes

• La cité d'Aregenua (Vieux, Calvados); chef-lieu des Viducasses. État des connaissances

• La maison du « Bas de Vieux » une riche habitation romaine du quartier des thermes d'Aregenua (Vieux, Calvados)

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• Fresnais, Marianne; Charroux, Honorine (2022). Le musée départemental de Vieux-la-Romaine a 20 ans ! [The Vieux-la-Romaine departmental museum is 20 years old!] (in French). Conseil Départemental du Calvados.
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• Unknown (2024). "Le musée de Vieux-la-Romaine rouvre ses portes pour la saison 2024" [The Vieux-la-Romaine museum reopens its doors for the 2024 season]. Ouest France (in French). Retrieved December 25, 2025.
• "Près de Caen. « Embarque avec tes héros grecs », expo à découvrir au musée de Vieux-la-Romaine" [Near Caen. "Embark with your Greek heroes," an exhibition to discover at the Vieux-la-Romaine museum.]. Ouest France (in French). Retrieved December 25, 2025.